Dover was settled in 1623, making it the oldest permanent settlement in New Hampshire and the seventh oldest in the United States. The community grew along the falls of the Cocheco River, which powered the mills that made Dover a center of textile manufacturing in the 19th century.
Fast facts
- Settled: 1623
- Incorporated as a city: 1855
- Population: approximately 32,700
- County: Strafford
- Government: Council–Manager (elected Mayor and City Council; appointed City Manager)
- Form of charter: adopted 1981, as amended
The City celebrates its founding each year and marked the lead-up to its 400th anniversary through the Dover 400th Anniversary Committee.